FOLLOWING the incident in Thailand where an elephant owner was crushed to death by a male elephant, Sahabat Alam Malaysia raises questions about the wider issues surrounding the use of elephants in tourism.
Elephant rides are a popular tourist activity, especially in Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal and other parts of Asia and some regions of Africa. It is not as common in Malaysia, though there are some locations that offer elephant rides.
The appeal of elephant treks is clear. In many ways, an elephant ride is equivalent to swimming with dolphins. However, there is a dark side to elephant tourism that people are not aware of.
Wild elephants will not allow humans to ride on them. In order to tame wild elephants, they are tortured. They are subjected to extremely cruel training practices, which involve repeated beatings and stabbing with bull hooks, and starvation.
Scars and injuries from bull hooks and chains are often visible.
This is the general and accepted training elephants have to undergo in Thailand for tourism, circuses or other performances.
The abuses suffered by the elephants have prompted international animal groups and celebrities to voice their support for a ban on elephant riding. They include renowned French animal activist Brigitte Bardot.
Despite their size, elephants should not be made to carry people on their back all day as it can cause permanent spinal injuries.
It is not just the weight on their spine, but also the implications of having a chair or howdah mounted on their back. The contraption rubs on their skin and causes blisters that can get infected.
Then, there is the wear-and-tear on the elephants’ feet. Long-term trekking can cause foot infections, and chronic foot and joint problems.
When not entertaining tourists, elephants display behaviours such as swaying from side to side and pacing.
They show signs of distress and boredom from a lack of stimulation, enrichment and freedom to express natural behaviour as a result of being chained and confined in cells.
To feed the booming elephant tourism industry, a continuous supply of elephants is needed. The hunt for elephant calves can result in the deaths of up to five adult elephants as herd members attempt to protect their young.
Calves which are separated from their mothers or subjected to cruel subduing and training procedures will die.
Scientists estimate that between 50 and 100 young elephants are captured in Myanmar every year and smuggled to Thailand.
Responsible tourists have the power to reduce that demand and change the industry. They can help by convincing travel companies and tour operators to stop promoting attractions that profit from elephant cruelty.
Riding an elephant may be a lifetime experience, but it can be detrimental to animal welfare and safety of tourists.
Tourists are given the impression that they are contributing to a good cause and encouraged to continue supporting these activities.
But, this is often an exploitation of the tourists’ concern for elephants. Travel companies should stop selling tickets and promoting venues offering elephant rides and shows.
S.M. MOHD IDRIS
President, Sahabat Alam Malaysia, Penang